Final Predictions for Who Will Make the Arizona Diamondbacks Roster

With baseball's Opening Day just one week away, this is the part of spring training when teams across the Major Leagues whittle away at their 40-man rosters—managers, GMs and coaches alike coming together to discern the best 25 men for April jobs.

For the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team mired in flux, that standard roster reduction will prove a challenge. Come April 1, the club may look very different than the squad presently on the late March Cactus League roster.

Some cuts are simple. Josh Booty, for instance, was truly never destined to play with the big boys, at least not so soon. He is still not yet MLB's "next knuckler."

Other cuts are bred out of necessity—phenom Adam Eaton will not appear in the Chase Field outfield during April because of a sprained left elbow.

This leaves the remainder. The club will retain key veterans; the Diamondbacks likely will not designate, say, Jason Kubel for assignment at this juncture, for both financial, contractual and logical reasons. This leaves a bubble group of youngsters, newcomers and some players who simply are a victim of circumstance.

*Due to Eaton's injury, Parra will likely get the nod for his outfield slot, splitting center and right field time with Ross.

^Late-breaking news is that Cody Ross' calf injury will keep him out of commission through at least Opening Day, which places Pollock into the starting outfield (via Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe).

Likely: Backups and Replacements Likely to Crack the Top 25

The following seven players are probable backups and No. 2 or No. 3 seeds the Diamondbacks will place on the initial 25-man roster. Catcher Wil Nieves, for instance, is a virtual backup lock for former All-Star Montero, who will surely need a break at some point during the waxing days of 2013.

Catcher: Wil Nieves

Corner Infielder: Eric Hinske (can also play the outfield)

Middle Infielder: Didi Gregorius

Outfielder: Tony Campana* and Eric Hinske (can also play first and third base)

Pitcher (Starter): Patrick Corbin or Randall Delgado**

Pitcher (Bullpen): Josh Collmenter and Tony Sipp

*Ross and Eaton's injuries will have a trickle-down effect as Campana could very well make the club out of spring training camp. Ordinarily a bubble player who appeared in 89 games for the Chicago Cubs in 2012, Campana will likely be brought on board as a necessary backup and situational pinch hitter or runner. Campana stole 30 bases last season in 43 attempts.

The following names will likely be left out of the Opening Day clubhouse, with most headed for Triple-A Reno. In fact, several of those listed have already joined the farm and are indicated with an asterisk. Incidentally, these names are also the ones most likely to grace the MLB roster if need be in 2013.

Catcher: Rod Barajas (a non-roster invitee)

Infielder: None—Arizona will heavily platoon the infield this year; Josh Parr has already been reassigned.

Outfielder: None—the Diamondbacks will need all the help they can get at the MLB level

As the D-Backs move forward into 2013, the club's roster picture begins to materialize in a fashion built out of sound reason. With Opening Day just around the bend, injuries have unfortunately upstaged Kirk Gibson and Kevin Towers and made several tough decisions slightly more apparent.